Why do so many Christians cling to their distorted 'End Times' nonsense?

Question

I see them using the term "Anti-Christ" when referring to the Book of Revelation, but the term is never used in that book. It is in the Epistles, and it is an insulting reference to the Gnostics, a major competitor of the Church.

The book of Revelation was addressed to seven communities in the Roman Province of Asia Minor, which is now modern Turkey.

Read some history, and you'll find out that Turkey is founded on the remains of the Ottoman Empire and has been Muslim for a very long time.

I don't think we need to warn the Christians in Turkey about some coming Apocalyptic scenario.

They died or moved a long, long time ago.

Answer 1

Most of that End Times stuff is not Biblical, either. Some people have just read it and twisted it around to mean all that. For instance, that whole "rapture" thing is NEVER described in the Bible.

Answer 2

It is rather embarrassing when a Christian who perhaps doesn't know the answer resorts to name calling! If you don't know the answer to what is being said Pipe Down! It's really that simple. One person here who responded picked on this guys avatar rather than answer the questions, ohh that scores a big one for the Christians, NOT! Now to answer the question I think it is because it justifies their faith and belief. Some people try to see today's events through a biblical prism which they use to validate their faith--my Mother does it all the time!

Answer 3

"Last days" ideas tend to be self-fulfilling prophecies. Look at the behaviour described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. This the kind of thing exhibited by those who have personal interests and are trying to get everything set up for themselves. They get idgetty if anybody tries to upset their pursuits and treat them badly. So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

The advice for Christians is in Matthew 24:42-44.
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ... So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Standing firm is mentioned in verse 13.

Answer 4

We are living in Babylonian times right now. Read the book of Daniel.
In the first 5 chapters of Daniel, he was an interpreter for Nebachadnezzar. In the 6th chapter, he was a prophet which is shown in Revelations also.
The Empires were represented by the statue Neb dreamed about.
Babylonian Empire - Head of gold
Medo-Persian - chest of silver
Grecian - waist of bronze
Roman Empire - legs/feet of iron and clay.

Anti-Christ has different names in Daniel, Rider on the White Horse, little horn (which represents an Empire)
Matt 24 also

Answer 5

Because it is the Truth, go ahead and mock, yes the book of the Revelation and parts of it were addressed to the seven churches in asia, yes those same passages speak of toady, and all of history, yes those pages are still relevant, yes that is present day Turkey, however the book is for the "END TIMES" and yes it does speak of the AntiChrist as the rise of the beast who suffers a deadly head wound, and is revived, it does speak of his war and his defeat, and his imprisonment, yes it does speak of things that are beginning to be set up and are now beginning to come to pass, and when those things take full swing, it will affect the whole earth, Yes it is the END TIMES whether you acknowledge it or not does not change that is - o ye of little faith!

Answer 6

According to the Scriptures it makes clear:

At 2 Peter 3: 3-10: "For YOU know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires 4 and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep [in death], all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.” 8 "However, let this one fact not be escaping YOUR notice...Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance. 10 Yet Jehovah’s day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a hissing noise, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be discovered."

Are we living in the "End of Times"? Without a doubt!

Matching world events to this prophecy is like matching a fingerprint to its owner. There will not be someone else with the identical print. Likewise, the pattern of events that began in 1914 will not be repeated in some future generation. Everything that goes to make up the sign is clearly in evidence. Surely we do not want to be like the people in Noah’s day. (Matt. 24:37-39)

NB: As for the Anti-Christ: What Does the Bible Really Teaches about its meaning: "Antichrist" means against or instead of Christ. The term applies to all who deny what the Bible says about Jesus Christ, all who oppose his Kingdom, and all who mistreat his followers. It also includes individuals, organizations, and nations that falsely claim to represent Christ or that improperly ascribe to themselves the role of Messiah.

Does the Bible refer to only ONE antichrist?

1 John 2:18: “Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be MANY antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.”

2 John 7: “MANY deceivers have gone forth into the world, PERSONS not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (Notice that the “many antichrists” of 1 John 2:18 are here referred to collectively as “the antichrist.”)

Is the coming of the antichrist reserved for some future time?

1 John 4:3: “EVERY inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s inspired expression which you have heard was coming, and NOW it is already in the world.” (That was written near the end of the first century C.E.)

1 John 2:18: “Even NOW there have come to be MANY antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.” (By “last hour” John evidently meant the end of the apostolic period. The other apostles had died, and John himself was very old.)

Some of those identified as antichrist—Persons who deny that Jesus is truly the Messiah:

1 John 2:22: “Who is the LIAR if it is not the one that DENIES that Jesus is the Christ [or, Messiah, anointed one]? This is the antichrist.”

All who deny that Jesus is the unique Son of God:

1 John 2:22: “THIS is the antichrist, the one that DENIES the Father and the Son.” (Compare John 10:36; Luke 9:35).

Apostates:

1 John 2:18, 19: “There have come to be MANY antichrists . . . They went out from us, but they were not of our sort.”

Those who oppose Christ’s true followers:

John 15:20, 21: “If they have persecuted me, THEY will persecute you also . . . But THEY will do all these things against you on account of my name.”

Individuals and nations that oppose Christ as King or that themselves falsely claim the Messianic role:

Ps. 2:2: “The KINGS of earth take their stand and high officials themselves have massed together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one [Christ, or Messiah].” (See also Revelation 17:3, 12-14; 19:11-21)

Matt. 24:24: “False Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.”

Answer 7

Because it has been an underlying tenet of the fear keeping Christianity together since Jesus told his 12 Apostles that he would be back in their lifetime.

Answer 8

We "cling" as you so graceously put it, because there is more evidence to prove what revelation has said, by what is going on today.

Hear the muslims speaking of armegeddon lately? A one world government is coming, and the beast will arise from it.

Answer 9

Just becuase you don't believe the same way or think the same way doesn't mean we're distorted. I believe the end times it speaks of in the Bible and if you don't then i'm sorry. You have your mind made up and doesnt' appear you are willing to change it so all I know to do is pray for you. God bless.

Answer 10

The 'rapture' was not even invented until the 1800s. it is asinine.